The raises give head custodians an extra $1,000 per year; high school custodians get a 20 cent per hour raise and middle school custodians get a 10 cent per hour raise, the story stated.

Longview Schools spokeswoman Sandy Catt said that the raises are not considered "cost-of-living increases," which no one in Longview School District received this year, but rather are raises accounted for in the yearly budget.

Though the SEIU considered postponing the raises if it allowed more employees to keep their jobs, the district never asked the union to forego the salary increases, the story noted.

Many feel that the raises were warranted as district custodians had not received a pay increase in over four years, the story added.